22 May 1940. 15:00hrs. Koblenz, Germany.
General Von Rundstedt had been in conference all morning between OKW in Berlin and his Army Group’s forward commanders, especially General Hoth. At 01:30hrs he had received a call from Colonel Schmundt, the Fuhrer’s Adjutant for the Armed forces. The Fuhrer wanted to know what the situation at Arras was. The answer was that 7th Panzer Division had been attacked in strength at a number of points, but the thrust was stopped and the British and French forces had withdrawn.
In the early morning, 4th Army’s Commander-in-chief, Von Kluge, asked Von Rundstedt for a decision as to whether Group Von Kliest (XIX and XLI Panzer Corps) was to be launched against Boulogne and Calais as ordered the day before, or whether they should await clarification of the situation at Arras.
Von Rundstedt, having considered all the information he had decided that the situation at Arras must be cleared up, and only then should Group Von Kleist push on to Calais and Boulogne.
At 09:00hrs, Colonel-General Keitel arrived in Koblenz. Having been brought up to date by Von Rundstedt, Keitel returned to Berlin, later telephoning Von Rundstedt to tell him that the Fuhrer was in full agreement with the measures taken by Von Rundstedt, and expressed his special confidence and satisfaction of the leadership of Army Group A.
NB. This is taken from Dunkirk by Hugh Sebag-Montefiore, Revised Ed 2015, Penguin Books, pp 681-682. No changes to OTL.
